Durbin Statement on Senate Passage of President Biden's American Rescue Plan

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after voting for the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, which delivers economic relief to American families and small businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a historic legislative package designed to change the course of the pandemic by ramping up vaccine distribution, getting students back to school, giving families and small businesses a bridge to economic recovery, and investing in advancing racial equity.

'We have no greater responsibility than to put an end to this pandemic and get the economy back on its feet. The American Rescue Plan will get that done. This historic bill extends crucial unemployment benefits for hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans, offers a lifeline to struggling small businesses, supports state and local government workers, provides direct checks to millions of American families, empowers our schools to reopen safely, and funds vaccine distribution to get shots in the arms of Americans.

'It is a shame Republicans were unwilling to vote for this relief bill. Senate Democrats will continue to listen to the American people and public health experts as we work to put this pandemic behind us. Republicans must choose whether they want to help end this crisis or continue to obstruct our progress.'

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